Weighting device for spinning frame drafting system

ABSTRACT

A weighting system for the middle top roll of a spinning frame drafting system illustrates a first bracket having an opening for reception of a middle bottom roll for rotation therein, a second bracket having an opening opposed to the opening of the first bracket for reception upon the middle top roll, resilient means urging the first and second brackets towards each other thus weighting the middle top roll, connecting means for maintaining the first and second brackets in alignment, and an aligning bar for maintaining cradle assemblies in uniform alignment.

United States Patent [1 1 Swanson WEIGHTING DEVICE FOR SPINNING FRAME DRAFTING SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Kenneth P. Swanson, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Progressive Engineering, Inc.,

Simpsonville, SC.

22 Filed: Sept. 4, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 393,808

[52] US. Cl. 19/267; 19/255 [51] Int. CL. DOIH 5/50 [58] Field of Search 19/266, 267, 278-282, 19/272 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,153,118 4/1939 Harris 19/282 2,762,082

9/1956 Ude 19/282 51 Sept. 23, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 576,902 4/1946 United Kingdom 19/267 Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney, Agent, or FirmBailey & Dority [57] ABSTRACT A weighting system for the middle top roll of a spinning frame drafting system illustrates a first bracket having an opening for reception of a middle bottom roll for rotation therein, a second bracket having an opening opposed to the opening of the first bracket for reception upon the middle top roll, resilient means urging the first and second brackets towards each other thus weighting the middle top roll, connecting means for maintaining the first and second brackets in alignment, and an aligning bar for maintaining cradle assemblies in uniform alignment.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION- This invention relates to apparatus for weighting the middle top roll of the drafting system of a spinning frame utilizing an independent resilient means for urging the rolls together thus in effect weighting thetop middle roll.

It has been the practice to weight the middle top roll from the top arm of the drafting system. The top arm (not shown) normally carries a weighting means for-the middle top roll intermediate the back toproll and front top roll. The top arm is latched down to'weight the back top roll and front top roll. Adjustable spring means carried by the top arm were heretofore provided for weighting the middle top roll as well. Theassernbly for thus weighting the top roll heretofore also served the function of fixing the cradle assemblies in angular alignment with respect to the various other elements of the drafting system. The problem of maintaining the various tensions has proved to be both aggravating and heretofore seemingly impossible of solution. The aprons carried by the cradles vary in angular disposition from delivery to delivery all up and down the spinning frame. The irregular and varying tensions and alignments resulting from the employment of such structure carried by the top arm produces varying and irregular yarns from delivery to delivery.

Since no dead weight is placed upon the middle top roll and middle bottom roll. as. was the case when weighting from the top arm, considerable friction producing wear on the associated bearings has been avoided. The weighting force ofdevices constructed in accordance with the present invention is-exerted between the rolls rather than downwardly upon the rolls.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this'inven tion to improve the spinning operation and uniformity of product by providing an independent weighting and aligning system for the middle top roll.

Another important object of the present invention is to weight the top roll from the middle botto'm roll independent of any other weighting system and without provision for adjustment to insure uniform tensions from delivery to delivery.

Still another important object of the inventionis to provide a constant preselected weight upon the middle top roll which will be the same throughout the frame, as well as provide uniform disposition of th ecradles to insure proper delivery of the partially formed yarn strand to the nip between the front top roll and front bottom roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The weighting means of the present invention contemplates the provision of first and second brackets with resilient means actuated by a earn for urging the brackets together with means for maintaining the brackets in alignment and respectively positioned upon the middle bottom roll and the middle top roll together with a bar carried at a given elevation along the roll stands of the drafting system to afford fixed support and uniform alignment to the cradles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWI G The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a weighting and cradle alignment system associated with the middle top roll of the drafting system of a spinning frame constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the weighting system for the middle top roll taken on'the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 illustrating the components in closed or tensioned position,

and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 2 showing the various components in open position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing illustrates an independent apparatus for weighting the middle top roll of the drafting system of a spinning frame from the middle bottom roll. A first bracket A has an opening for reception of the middle bottom roll for rotation therein. A second bracket B has an openingopposed to the opening of the first bracket for reception of the middle top roll therein. Re-

silient means C urge the first and second brackets toward each other, and connecting means D serves to maintain the first and second brackets in alignment in opposed relation to each other as will be more fully explainednat a later point. Thus, a predetermined fixed force may be exerted during spinning between said middle b ot tom roll and said middle top roll. The connecting. means preferably includes a pair of spaced aligned pins 24 and 25 slidably carried by the first bracket, as well as an intermediate slidable pin 21 also carried by the first bracket. A coiled spring is carried by each pin 24 and 25 on one side of the first bracket. A cam E for actuating said resilient means C, such as the coiled springs, urges the first and second brackets toward each other. An aligning bar 31 extends along the drafting system for supporting a lower cradle portion for aligning the cradles.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of spaced deliveries of the drafting system of a spinning frame. The middle bottom roll isillustrated in broken lines at 10 and the middle toproll is also illustrated in broken lines at 11. A pair of spaced apron assemblies are illustrated at 12 and 13 in broken lines. A weighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated between the deliveries with the components in closed position exerting force between the middle bottom roll and the middle top roll.

The weighting apparatus includes a first bracket A which is preferably constructed of molded plastic, such as nylon. The first bracket A has an elongated housing portion 14 and a pair of spaced outwardly extending bearing forming members 15 and 16 carried thereby defining an opening 17 for reception of the middle bottom roll for rotation therein. The bearing forming members 15 and 16 define bearing surfaces 15a and 16a for accommodating the middle bottom roll for rotation. It will be observed that hook portions 15b and 1611 are carried adjacent the free ends of the bearing forming members and extend partially around the middle bottom roll. Since the plastic imparts limited flexibility to the bearing forming members, the hook portions cause the middle bottom roll to be resiliently clamped therein so that the weighting apparatus will not fall off the middle bottom roll when the bracket B is released from the middle top roll. Thus, a snapping action is provided for affixing the bracket A upon the middle bottom roll during installation of the devices.

A second bracket B includes a short body portion 18 which carries an outwardly projecting clamping member 19 defining a clamping surface 19a for accommodating the middle top roll. The body portion carries a vertical enlarged intermediate pin 21 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is slidably mounted within a bore 22 within the elongated body portion 14 and is fixed as by pin to the second bracket B. The clamping member 19 carries a forwardly projecting extension 19b for limiting the movement of a cam as described in greater detail below. A flat cam follower surface 190 is also carried by the body portion 18a. An ear portion 18b is formed on each side of the back of body portion 18.

Resilient means C are provided in the form of coiled springs 23 urging the first and second brackets towards each other. The springs are carried by spaced vertical rods 24 and 25 and are confined beneath a lower surface 14a of the body portion 14 and a suitable spring stop 26 at the lower end of the pins 23 and 25. These springs 23 may be placed in compression by raising the pins 24 and 25 to exert a force between the middle bottom roll and the middle top roll for the purpose of weighting same. A cam E has pivotal connection as at 27 with the pins 24 and 25 and defines a cam surface presenting a rise from a low point at 28 to a high point as at 29. A manually operated handle 30 extends forwardly thereof and when depressed is limited in its downward movement by the forwardly projecting portion 19b. When the handle 30 is raised so that cam E is pivoted to the low point at 28, the bracket member B may be manually raised to the position shown in FIG. 3.

Connecting means D are provided by pins 24 and 25 slideably carried through the main body portion 14 of the bracket A and by the vertical intermediate pin 21 slideably mounted within the bore 22 centrally located in the body portion 14 of bracket A. The ear portions 18b formed on body portion 18 extend behind and engage the pins 24 and 25 preventing pin 21 from rotating in the bore 22. In this manner brackets A and B are connected in opposed alignment relative to each other.

Means in the form of a bar 31 is provided for limiting the downward movement of the cradles 32 which carry the the respective apron assemblies illustrated at 12 and 13. Thus, the cradles may be maintained at a fixed elevation all across the spinning frame and the strand uniformly delivered to the nip of the front roll (not shown). The bar is positioned at a preselected level along the drafting system between roll stands 33 so that a lower portion of cradles 32 bear against same. Since the middle bottom roll fixes the upper location of the cradles, the cradles will be in proper fixed and uniform alignment along the spinning frame.

It is thus seen that a constant preselected weight may be exerted between the middle bottom roll and the middle top roll throughout the length of the spinning frame. Weighting devices of the present invention may be positioned between deliveries for exerting a desired equal weight upon all of such rolls while the cradles are carried in proper alignment resulting in greater uniformity of yarn production all across the spinning frame.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for weighting the middle top roll of a spinning frame having a middle bottom roll comprising:

A. A first bracket having an opening for reception upon the middle bottom roll for rotation therein;

B. a second bracket having an opening opposed to said opening of the first bracket for reception upon the middle top roll;

C. resilient means exerting a force urging said first and second brackets together including;

1. a pair of spaced aligned pins slideably carried by said first bracket,

11. a coiled spring carried by an end of each pin adjacent said first bracket, and

[11. means adjacent the other end of each pin for compressing said coiled springs thereby urging said second bracket toward said first bracket.

whereby a predetermined fixed force may be exerted during spinning between said middle bottom roll and said middle top roll.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 in combination with, cradles carried by said middle bottom roll. a leveling bar extending along the spinning frame at a preselected level upon which a lower portion of said cradles bear for aligning the cradles along the spinning frame.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said U- shaped bearing surface includes hook portions adjacent free ends of said first bracket extending partially about the middle bottom roll exerting a snapping action retaining the apparatus thereupon.

4. Apparatus for weighting the middle top roll of a spinning frame having a middle bottom roll comprising:

A. a first bracket defining a substantially U-shaped bearing surface for reception upon the middle bottom roll for rotation therein;

B. a second bracket defining a substantially U-shaped bearing surface opposed to said bearing surface of the first bracket for reception upon the middle top roll; and

C. resilient means exerting a compressive force between said first and second brackets including:

i. a pair of spaced aligned pins slideably carried by said first bracket,

ii. a coiled spring carried by an end of each pin adjacent said first bracket, and

iii. A cam pivotally carried adjacent the other end of each pin for compressing said coiled springs thereby urging said second bracket toward said first bracket,

whereby a predetermined fixed force may be exerted during spinning between said middle bottom roll and said middle top roll. 

1. Apparatus for weighting the middle top roll of a spinning frame having a middle bottom roll comprising: A. A first bracket having an opening for reception upon the middle bottom roll for rotation therein; B. a second bracket having an opening opposed to said opening of the first bracket for reception upon the middle top roll; C. resilient means exerting a force urging said first and second brackets together including; l. a pair of spaced aligned pins slideably carried by said first bracket, ll. a coiled spring carried by an enD of each pin adjacent said first bracket, and lll. means adjacent the other end of each pin for compressing said coiled springs thereby urging said second bracket toward said first bracket. whereby a predetermined fixed force may be exerted during spinning between said middle bottom roll and said middle top roll.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 in combination with, cradles carried by said middle bottom roll, a leveling bar extending along the spinning frame at a preselected level upon which a lower portion of said cradles bear for aligning the cradles along the spinning frame.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped bearing surface includes hook portions adjacent free ends of said first bracket extending partially about the middle bottom roll exerting a snapping action retaining the apparatus thereupon.
 4. Apparatus for weighting the middle top roll of a spinning frame having a middle bottom roll comprising: A. a first bracket defining a substantially U-shaped bearing surface for reception upon the middle bottom roll for rotation therein; B. a second bracket defining a substantially U-shaped bearing surface opposed to said bearing surface of the first bracket for reception upon the middle top roll; and C. resilient means exerting a compressive force between said first and second brackets including: i. a pair of spaced aligned pins slideably carried by said first bracket, ii. a coiled spring carried by an end of each pin adjacent said first bracket, and iii. A cam pivotally carried adjacent the other end of each pin for compressing said coiled springs thereby urging said second bracket toward said first bracket, whereby a predetermined fixed force may be exerted during spinning between said middle bottom roll and said middle top roll. 